Two Days in Edinburgh-Scottish Isles and Glens
Edinburgh Castle
For our last two days in Scotland, we're in Edinburgh with CIE TOURS Scottish Isles and Glens. We arrived in Edinburgh the night before and checked into the Novotel after visiting Glenturret Distillery and The Helix Park: Home of the Kelpies. We freshened up then attended a Scottish Dinner at Norton House. We got a good night's sleep and even got to sleep in a little-lobby call was for 9 a.m.
Today we'll get a city tour by bus, then a walking tour of Edinburgh Castle with our guide Graham followed by free time to roam wherever we like.
Some of our group will be leaving the next morning but a few of us will get one more day in Scotland before heading back to the US and Canada.
West Register House
St. John's Kirk
Prince Albert Statute in Charlotte Square.
The Dome, George Street, Edinburgh
We say goodbye to our awesome coach driver Jim and walk with Graham up to Edinburgh Castle.
Graham is only allowed to guide us around the outside of the castle but we're free to enter any of the buildings if we want. Jay and I have done the whole castle before so we just do the walking bit with Graham.
This gun is fired daily at 1 p.m., why 1 p.m.? well according to Graham-Scots don't want to waste 11 rounds firing at noon daily, where one round works just as well.
The views from the castle are wonderful. In nicer weather, the views must be gorgeous.
I had to visit the Witches Well
Our group breaks up and Jay and I head back to the city center. There are a lot of street performers along the way, ready to entertain the late season tourists.
I pull Jay along and have a visit with Greyfriars Bobby.
You can even visit his grave site.
Back at the hotel and I'm on a quest to see the Castle all lit up. We head out as the sun is setting and try a few venues around Edinburgh.
I had wanted to get a photo of Ross Fountain all lit up and the castle in the background but the Princes Street Garden closed at sunset. But I found a spot that worked well for me anyway.
We ended up walking back toward the Novotel and stopped at The Hanging Bat for dinner.
On our last day in Edinburgh, we have a Hop on Hop Off bus pass and take a ride around the city listening to a pre-recorded narrative of all the sites to see.
We "hop off" at Holyrood Palace and explore the palace and grounds. We've been here before but never inside the gates.
Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has served as the principal royal residence in Scotland since the 16th century, and is a setting for state occasions and official entertaining,
We hop back on the bus and drive by one of my favorite monuments in Scotland, The Scott Monument.
The statute of Scott is made from white Carrara marble and shows Scott seated, resting from writing one of his works with a quill pen, his dog Maida by his side. The monument carries 64 figures of characters from Scott's novels.
The tower is 200 feet 6 inches (61.11 m) high and has viewing platforms reached by a series of spiral staircases giving panoramic views of central Edinburgh and its surroundings. The highest platform is reached by a total of 287 steps.
It stands in Princes Street Gardens, opposite the former Jenners building on Princes Street and near Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station, which is named after Scott's Waverley novels.
The tower is 200 feet 6 inches (61.11 m) high and has viewing platforms reached by a series of spiral staircases giving panoramic views of central Edinburgh and its surroundings. The highest platform is reached by a total of 287 steps.
Tonight we end up at Innis and Gunn for a couple of pints from the extensive menu of draft beers.
Next up our flight back to Boston and our drive back up to Vermont.
What a trip, Scotland is such a beautiful country, I hope you put it on your list of places to see. You won't be disappointed.